But mourners let their feelings be known in a quiet show of strength and support as they gathered outside the family’s house.

And as the windows of the McGuigan home were flung open, a muffled sound could be heard, then the gentle tones of Don Williams filtered into the air singing ‘You’re My Best Friend’.

There was an audible intake of breath as those gathered registered what was happening.

Dolores had had the song played as her husband’s coffin had been brought home to her two days ago, and she played it again as his coffin was carried out.

As the couple’s favourite song echoed through the close, family members started clapping and encouraging others to join in.

Mourners applauds

The crowd started tentatively and then the momentum and volume grew as people laughed and cried through the verses as they were played once and then a second time.

Mourners shielded their eyes from the bright sunlight, then clapped and cheered as the next song, ‘You Are My Sunshine’ blasted out prompting a couple of little toddlers to dance in delight.

But within a moment the atmosphere plummeted back into darkness as Mr McGuigan’s sons, daughters, mother, father and widow took turns to shoulder his coffin across the murder spot to their church.

They walked behind the hearse packed with funeral wreaths dedicated to Mr McGuigan the father, husband, son, grandfather and uncle.

And as the procession moved deliberately along the road, a crowd of 600 heaved into the space behind them, shaking hands, clapping backs and sharing hugs with returning friends who had long left the area.

A PSNI helicopter droned overhead and a heavy police presence was maintained on the surrounding area, cameras monitoring the funeral amid fears that tensions over the street execution could spill over.

The huge security operation had been put in place several hours before mourners started to arrive for Mr McGuigan’s funeral, with police positioned on every road leading into the nationalist enclave.

Dozens of police Land Rovers were dotted in and around Short Strand but PSNI officers kept their distance from Comber Court and the funeral procession as it made its way to and from the 185-year-old church.

A small pocket of residents gathered on the Lower Newtownards Road at its junction with Bryson Street.

Police stand watch as the funeral takes place of former IRA member Kevin McGuigan Sr (Image: Getty Images)

But any fears over clashes between the rival groups on the notorious sectarian interface failed to materialise bar a few whistles and jeers.

Brickies on a building site right on the peace line between the two residential areas stopped work and hung over the scaffolding to watch the procession below.

Inside the cool of the chapel, Fr John Nevin touched on the tragedy that had befallen the McGuigan family and told mourners that revenge and violence solve nothing.

He died from six gunshot wounds to the back of his head and neck.

He said: “The only thing that all of us can take from this terrible tragedy and from today’s funeral Mass is that violence does not solve problems.

“Violence and war and revenge do not solve problems, but create more - the circle goes on.”

Fr Nevin said he had visited the family home on Monday and as Mr McGuigan’s widow Dolores stood by his open coffin, she asked the priest: “Why?”

And today he told those gathered: “I have no answers for these tragedies that wreck families. I cannot say why. I do not know why.”

Mr McGuigan, a former IRA prisoner, is believed to have been targeted by mainstream republicans seeking revenge for the murder of Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison last May.

Three months earlier Mr McGuigan had handed himself in to police when rumours spread about his alleged association with the killing and he was questioned as a witness by PSNI detectives.

And at this funeral mass today, Fr Nevin said: “The mistakes that people make are highlighted in the media. The good that people do is often buried with their bones.

“There have been hundreds of Mass and sympathy cards left at the family home and they say something about Kevin and his family.

“They say there is a lot of love, gratitude, appreciation for all the good Kevin did in life.”

Hours before the funeral, three men were arrested by detectives probing Mr McGuigan’s murder.

The men - aged 41, 44 and 53 - were detained at various locations across Belfast.

They are currently being quizzed at Antrim Serious Crime Suite.

Detective Chief Inspector John McVea said: “The men, aged 53, 44 and 41 were arrested at various locations in the greater Belfast area this morning. All three have now been taken to the Serious Crime Suite for questioning.”